When you were little
and went to church,
it felt like they
worshipped women
instead of the Father
for a day.
Sons and husbands,
honor her;
daughters,
look who you’ll become.
Boys, treat a woman right
(she’s always right)
and you’ll be happy
forever.
When you were older,
and being a girl felt more right
but they still spoke to you like you weren’t,
their logic honed a new edge.
Still told to get a wife
and treat her right (as if that was the exception
from the rest of the year),
still excluded from the verb “mothering”
even when you babysat kids regularly,
still holding a phantom wish
in your body
like you could deliver a baby,
like the wish might make you more of a mourning woman
in their eyes–
it’s easy to dismiss things as stupid holidays
when they’re not talked about tomorrow and yesterday.
It’s easy to forget
minor affronts to your existence
half a calendar away.
But I remind you, younger or older,
you have a mother
nature
and she loves you.
You have a mother nature
who made you
with a nurturing heart,
unafraid of pain in others
because you know pain too.
We have a mother nature,
born of thorns and flowers
storms and rainbows,
and you can grow up
in her embrace
to be anyone.
***
find my published book here
Jordyn Saelor 